Business Combinations, Intangibles and Goodwill - Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the period	$ 14,424
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	879
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	(2)
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	0
Balance, end of the period	15,301
Information Storage
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the period	7,486
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	6
Balance, end of the period	7,492
Information Intelligence Group
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the period	1,487
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	(2)
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	0
Balance, end of the period	1,485
RSA Information Security
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the period	2,203
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	0
Balance, end of the period	2,203
Pivotal
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the period	177
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	0
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	(6)
Balance, end of the period	171
VMware Virtual Infrastructure Within EMC
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of the period	3,071
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions	879
Finalization of purchase price allocations and other, net	0
Goodwill transferred in formation of Pivotal	0
Balance, end of the period	$ 3,950